Saddle



Aug. 20,1935. J. w. BRANDT 2, 2

' SADDLE Filed Feb 17, 1933 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snventor Ja /m 14/ firandt.

(ltfomeg 19350 J. w. BRANDT I 2@H,42

SADDLE Filed Feb. 17, 1935 2 $heets-Sheet' 2 v INVENTOR. Jb/m W Bruno Z".

' AT1-"ORNEY3.

Patented Aug. 29, 1935 =[s'i' PTEN GFFHCE SADDLE John W. Brandt, Elyria, 01min, assignor t The Troxel Manufacturing Company, Elyria, @hio, V a corporation of, (this Application February17,'1933, Serial No; 657,223

12 Claims. (01. 208%}15) we s My invention relates generally'to saddles, and more particularly to saddles of the general type employed on cycles.

Saddles heretofore proposedalthough vari proper of molded. rubber detachably secured to the base and maintained thereon by its own inherent resiliency.

Anotherob-ject of my invention is to provide ously constructed, have been subject to a number a saddle seat of improved construction composed of objections. j I generallyof rubber or like material comprising One class of saddles is made with 'a seat comrelatively hard portions detac'hably engageable posed substantially of leather but these saddles with portions of a supporting base and comprisdo not have the quality of riding comfort to a g relatively soft seat port o for Supporting l1 satisfactory degree. To provide greater comfort the rider. v saddles have been made with a seat composed of These a d Othel- Objects the ifiliehtieri W layers such for example as a leather layer overlecome increasing pp from a consid ralying a layer or" cushioning material such as felt, tion 'of the following descrip o and drawings, hair filling or the like, and a layer of leather wherein-: v

Or cheaper material such as canvas under the 1 is hettem P1911 w Of a V e Sadd e 15 layer or cushioning material, and the different embodying a pr ferred'iorm oi myinvention; layers stitched together. Such a saddle is rela- F 2 is a mediallseotional vi w ri alon tively expensive, and in addition, to support the e line I saddle it is commonly found necessary to pro- 3' 5 a fragmentary V uet at the vide a sheet metal or like base and to affix the of attaching the e base to the p saddle thereto. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along In order to reduce the cost of these expensive theline Of ig. l;

saddles, leather substitutes have been brought vFig. 51s a transverse seotion'al V k n al n into use. Such'leather and leather substitute e l 0f materials, however, absorb moisture and when 6 8 fragmentary V eW g a rubber L5 exposed to the elements deteriorate and soon lose plate Which I y employ befelethe t oduction thesm-ooth glossy fr'ictioril'ess surface so much fa reinforcing ele p desired by the rider's of cyclegj, Fig. '7 is a'botto-m plan View of a modified form Furthermore, saddles of the type referred to Which I y e y;

comprising a relatively soft'eoliifortable seat ses- 3 is a medial Se'etiehel View taken 1 8 30 cured to a base have usually" been constructed, the e 1 Fig; 1 in those features which secure the seat to the a; transverse Sectional V ew taken along a base, so that when the saddle seat becomes worn the i 3" o ig. and

, or unsightly and itis desired to replace it, the e transverse ctional View taken entire saddle incllldi'rlg the seat and the base l line f 7 V 3 structure must be discarded, thus rendering the Referring the drawings, I have cated replacement expensive; 7 at l a sheet metal plate generally triangular in If, i th ref n bject 5f m t contour and conforming to a desired saddle provide anirllproved saddleof the class adapted t the plate Chmprieing e liehimel' Portion 40 for use on cycles and which will be comfortable d'a Gentle portion h 'l l p rti n 2 40 to the rider and durable in use and relatively o the metal plate i is o 'e' a iy'b ovided with inexpensive, a downwardly extending U-shizried strap 4 formed I Another object of m invention is to provide y p v i spaced transversely ding slits such a saddle of the class comprising a base and pressing the ihtelvehifig' t l ow wa dly.

' structure and a seat proper and in which the pol'tiell 0f the lelete ti D OVi'dEd -t i ee ed to the base i an imprbvd n; with downwardly extending tongues ii formed by ner whereby it may readily be removed for re- Perforating the plate in? Bi aped manner and l cem nt, 7 bending the perforated portion downwardly l A other object of my invention is fd'providg', whereby the tongues will be contained in a plane 56 for saddles the class comprising a base struc-g eXtehthng' l'efigitlldihe-liy 0f the p a e. ture and a seat proper thereon, an improved seat The saddle top construction i adapted tobe; t ijiom supported by" the plate and comprises a prefer Another object of my invention is to provide" ably rhold'ed rubber body fiprovided' with a pocket arr improved saddle'of-the class referred to comor pocl'ie'ts 'l' on the under side of the unit within prising a supportingbase-portion and a seat which is" disposed cushioning means 8 secured therein in any suitable way, such as by use of an adhesive, by molding integrally with the body 6, or by merely fitting it therein. The cushioning means 8 preferably comprises sponge rubber and may, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, conform generally to the saddle contour, being usually as shown spaced inwardly from the border portions thereof as indicated at 9. Although I have shown two pockets I-l, it is understood that a single pocket or any desired number of pockets may be employed.

For the purpose of securing the rubber body constituting the top of the saddle to the metal reinforcing and supporting plate I, I provide a preferably continuous inturned flange of'the rubber body disposed near its borders on the underside of the body, said flange comprising the rear flange portion I9 and lateral flange portion H, and a forward flange portion i2, which is in the form of a wedge bridging the two lateral flange portions, and providing a socket I3.

The reinforcing plate I is secured to the rubber plate 6 within the pocket I3 and stretching the borders ofthe rubber body 6 whereby the aforementioned inturned flanges of the body 5 will be snapped within the channel or groove provided under and towards the sides as a result of the provision of the flanges I0, II, and web flange I2.

In normal use, the reinforcing plate I will thus be entirely gripped by the downwardly extending lateral and rear portions of the rubber body 6. The plate I and rubber body portion 6 will thus be easily and permanently secured together due to the constricting action of the rubber, which, retracting after deformation during assembly, will cause the channel groove to receive the border portions of the reinforcing plate I. The channel groove is so formed as to tightly engage the reinforcing plate thus insuring absence of play between plates I and 6 despite severe and constant usage.

I provide a reach rod I4 generally triangularv in shape and havin a. U-shaped front portion and provided with laterally extending prongs I5-I5 at the cantle or rearward end of the rod. The prongs I5 terminate in upwardly extending projections l6 adapted to engage laterally spaced helical springs II'I'I the bottom convolutions of the springs II are closely spiraled to encircle the portions IS of the reach rod at the spring axis. The upper end convolutions of the springs I'iare bent laterally inwardly as indicated at I8, whereby the springs may be secured to the saddle in a manner to be hereinafter described.

To secure the U-shaped front portion of the reachrod to the saddle, I provide a clip I9 having an eye 29, and a body portion 22 comprising superimposed planular extensions. The planular extensions are forced over the reach rod so that the eye 20 forms a hinging support therefor and the planular extensions or body portion is forced through the U-shaped strap 4 of the reinforcing plate I, the end of one of the planular extensions being bent downwardly whereby the clip I9 is securely locked to the saddle. This provides a simple and inexpensive locking means and permits of a desired hinging action between the pommel of the saddle and the reach rod.

The springs H are secured to the reinforcing plate I in a manner best illustrated in Fig. 3. I provide a clip 23 having an eye 24 and a body portion 25 comprising superimposed planular extensions, the body portion being provided with a central slot as indicated at 26. The tongues 5 are projected through the slot 26 and bent laterally as indicated at 21. The laterally extending spring end I8 .thus hingingly engages the eye 24.

To remove the rubber plate 6 from the reinforcing plate I, the rear and lateral inturned flange portions II) and II will be stretched to remove from the border portions of plate I which the flanges constrictingly engage. The plate 6 will then be forced forwardly to remove the pommel portion of reinforcing plate I from its enclosing socket I3 formed by web flange I2, the plates thus being quickly and easily disengaged.

I have illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 another embodiment of 'my invention which employs somewhat different means to secure the body member to the reinforcing plate.

As shown in the drawings, this form employs a reinforcing plate 30 and a saddle top 3i of molded rubber generally similar in construction to that employed in the form shown in Figs. 1-6. The saddle top' has a substantially continuous peripheral flange 32 which has on its inner face an inturned bead portion 33. A pocket 34, into which the edge of the reinforcing member projects, is located between the bead and the flange 32. 'The bead and the flange may be constructed if desired so as to tightly engage the edges of the reinforcing plate to assist in securing the saddle top to the reinforcing plate.

The saddle top may be provided with any suitable cushioning means, such as sponge rubber 8, as also shown at 8' in Figs. 2 and 5, or it may be omitted entirely as desired.

The reinforcing plate is provided with a plurality of depending tongues 35 located adjacent the edges of the plate along the sides and at the rear of the plate. These tongues may be formed by perforatingthe metal and bending'the perforated portion down.

After the saddle top portion 3I is in place with the edges of the plate .30 in the pocket 34 the tongues 35 are bent down against the bead to clamp the bead in place. It will be seen that when these tongues are pressed against the bead that the cover 3I is securely locked on the reinforcing plate 30. If it is desired at any time to remove the cover, the tongues 35 may be bent awayfrom the bead to release the bead.

Although it is understood that any desired under structure may be employed, I preferably employ the aforementioned structure due to the added resiliency and flexibility attained by the hinging actioneffected at both the pommel and cantle portions of the saddle.

It will be seen that the saddle provided by my invention is relatively inexpensive, possesses great resiliency, and has a top structure comprising a molded unit easily and removably secured to the reinforcing plate.

Although I have shown and described in detail certain, embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from thespirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:--

i 1. A saddle for cycles comprising a molded rubber body, a sheet metal reinforcing plate conforming generally to the form of the saddle, a body of relatively soft cushioning material disposed nearest the upper surface of the body and embedded therein, said plate underlying the cushioning material body and being constrictingly engaged by the molded rubber body.

2. The saddle substantially as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the said metal plate being fitted within inturned under flanges of the molded rubber body. I

3. The saddle substantially as described in claim 1, wherein the rubber body and the cushioning material body are integrally molded together.

l. A saddle of the class described comprising a molded rubber body, having a continuous peripheral groove disposed inwardly, a. sheet metal reinforcing plate conforming generally to the form of the saddle and fitting the said groove at the border portions, a body of relatively soft cushioning material disposed nearest the upper surface of the molded rubber body and embedded therein, said metal plate underlying the cushioning material body.

5. The saddle substantially as described in claim 1, wherein the said metal plate is embedded Within inturned under flanges of the rubber molded body and the pommel portion secured within an integrally formed pocket of the rubber body.

6. The saddle substantially as described in claim 1, characterized by the relatively soft cushioning material body comprising two laterally spaced portions conforming generally to the contour of the saddle. I

'7. The saddle substantially as described in claim 1, wherein'the rubber body constrictingly engages the peripheral portions of the sheet metal reinforcing plate.

8. A saddle for cycles comprising a molded rubber plate and having downwardly extending latoral and rear portions, a continuous inwardly disposed flange embodying a continuous groove' beneath the plate and inwardly of the lateral and rear portions, a sheet metal reinforcing plate constrictingly engaged at the border'portions by the said flange, a cushioning body of relatively soft resilient material embedded in the rubber plate disposed above the reinforcing steel plate, and means for pivotally securing the reinforcing plate to a vehicle.

9. A saddle comprising a molded rubber body member having adjacent its periphery an inturned bead portion, a reinforcing member disposed below and Within said body member, the

reinforcing member being constrictingly engaged by the body member, and a plurality of depending members associated with the reinforcing member and cooperating with the bead portion of the body member to secure said body member to.

said reinforcing member.

10. In a saddle, a molded body member having adjacent its periphery, an inturned bead portion, a reinforcing member disposed below and Within said body member, a plurality of depending tongues carried by the reinforcing member, the

bead portion of the body member being clamped between said depending tongues and the reinforcing member.

11. A saddle of the class described comprising a substantially rigid base having relatively thin oppositely disposed edge portions and a cover of rubber or'like resilient material superposed on the base, the cover overlapping the opposite edge portions of the base and provided with oppositely disposed inwardly open recessed portions, the

cover beingadapted to be resiliently stretched to,

dispose the said opposite base edge portions in the opposite cover recessed portions to detachably attach the cover portion to the base by the inherent retractile resiliency of the cover material.

12. In a cycle saddle of the full-skirted type,

jacent thereto, said retaining portions being outwardly deformable and bent outwardly into close engagement with the inner surfaces of said bead to prevent relative displacement of said body member and said frame member during ordinary use of the saddle, said skirt portion comprising a downwardly directed extension extending substantially below said bead and effectually concealing said bead and bead retaining portions of said frame during ordinary use of the saddle.

JOHN W. BRANDT. 

